HOME AND FOREIGN NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4396, 29 June 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

HOME AND FOREIGN NEWS

MURDERS OF CHRISTIAN 3 BY KURDS. With tho approach of spring, and the attendant migration of Kurds with their flocks from the plains to tho mountains, lawlessness on tho part of these wild tribes is of frequent occurrence. News has reached Constantinople from Mosul of a series of murders and depredations committed by tho Kurds on Christians. A certain Kurdish chief, by name Reshid Bey, recently murdered fifteen Christians in tho Tryari district, and carried off their, flocks of sheep. It is added that Reshid Boy, together with the Sheikh Bcha Ed Din, has placed himself at the head of a thousand Kurds, and has withdrawn to the mountains in Try. ari, with tho object of attacking the Christians. Tho intervention of the Government is urgently demanded in order to prevent a massacre. The affair has been brought to the notice of the Porte, and it is understood that orders have already been sent t® the Vilayet of Mosul to keep the Kurds in check. TWO HUNGRY MIDDIES. An extraordinary event has occurred at Ancona in connection with the disappearance of two midshipman from H.M.S. Empress of India. On April fill H.M.S. Andromeda put into Ancona, and an officer and four armed sailors lauded. They were met by M. Tom. masini, the Ehglish Consul, and they immediately asked him to hand over to them two officers. Consul Tommasini knew nothing of the matter. However, the officers were better informed. The Andromeda, which had just returned from taking Lord Rosebery to Naples, had received an order by semaphore from Valetta to proceed at once to Ancona and pick up two officers. Captain F. L. holey, of the Andromeda, sent an officer to the Prefect of Ancona to make enquiries; and, finding that .there were no English officers in the town, the ship left the same day for Malta. A full investigation brought the following facta to light. Three weeks previously two young midshipmen, named Edmond Combe and Percival Reynolds, who had only joined the service on January 15th, were missing from the Empress of India at Malta. They were found at the railway station at Ascoli, where they were travelling without tickets, as they had no money. They were detained, and they asked to ce put into communication with the Eng. fish Ambassador at Rome. Through his agency the captain of the Andromeda was informed of their whereabouts, but owing to some official delay tho boys had not reached Ancona when she called for them. They arrived later, and on being interviewed, they said that they had left Malta with £ls between them, which was spent almost at once, and for ton days they had scarcely anything to eat, ' A FORGOTTEN TRAGEDY. Tho chained skeleton of a young worn an has been discovered in the town of Poultney, Vermont, and has revealed a tragedy worthy of the Dark Ages. The skeleton was found in the cellar of an old house, long deserted, where a brick pit had been constructed, holding an iron post, to which was fastened a heavy chain. The handcuffs still held the fleshless wrists. The doctors pronounced the skeleton to be that of a woman. Then it was remembered that this house was once occupied by a young French Canadian, Pierre Bourdon, who brought there one day a young and beautiful bride, also a French Canadian. Unhappily, her beauty made her the object of so much attention that Pierre became frantically jealous, and one day, when he caught her, as he thought, somewhat openly flirting with a young man of the town, he ordered her home, and no one but her husband ever saw her again. It was given out that she had gone to Canada, and there, so far as the public were concerned, the matter ended. But it is now believed that she was slowly murdered by starvation, while chained in the pit in the cellar, and there are circumstances which favour the conjecture that the crime extended over a whole year. Pierre himself died a morose old man in 1887, fifty years after the supposed crime was committed.

TERRIBLE EXPLOSION IN GERMANY. A fire broke out at the Grieshiem Chemical factory, near Frankfort-on-Main, in the department where explosives were manufactured. The local fire brigade was at once summoned, and was still occupied in endeavouring to master the flames when a tremendous explosion occurred. The fire had ignited several cylinders of picrio acid. Instantly huge flames burst forth on all sides, and spread with frightful speed to the adjacent buildings, and then oyer the Main to the village of Schwanheim. An hour later a second explosion took place. The scene of the disaster became almost unapproachable, and as there was a possibility of the fire reaching some large benzine stores, the inhabitants of Gries. heim were ordered, to quit the village, which had already suffered considerably. The people fled to Frankfort. The Frankfort fire Brigade, ambulance, and salvage corps had in the meantime arrived, as well as some troops, and all set to work with great vigour. Some of the houses adjoining the factory were set on fire, while others were demolished by the concussion. There was a final explosion in the blazing works in the evening, but the fire bad been so far got under control by midnight tnat all further damage was regarded as over. It was quickly found that the list of killed and injured was a terrible one. Several children were hurled bodily by the force of the first explosion into the River Main, and were drowned before a rescue could be effected. According to a telegram published in Berlin, eighty dead bodies have been recovered, but a later estimate placed the number of kijled at not'inore than fifteen. There was no doubt, however, that 150 people were maimed and burnt, and some of them" cannot recover, so that the total casualties were nearly 200. Several firemen were reported to liave been killed while trying to rescue the injured. THE LADY AND THE EAGLE. A somewhat alarming incident (says the “Oban Times”) occurred the other day to a youns; lady staying at Glengorm, Mull. She was climbing the steep and rocky heights overlooking the Mishnish Lochs, when she- observed a very large bird perched on a crag above her. She recognised it as an emd or whitetailed eagle, but thinking it would naturally take fright on her approach she felt no alarm. Suddenly the eagle, which was of an enormous size, ruffled its feathers, and emitted short, angry screams; then it flew up and hovered in a menacing fashion with outspread wings about a yard above her head. She bravely struck out at it with her walking stick, but seeing the bird with its sharp talons and beak comino- nearer and ready to swoop down on her, she beat a Jiasty retreat. The eagle <pursued her for some distance down the hill, but, to her relief, it flew off as she ap-

preached her friends who were fishing on tho loch. A PRINCELY SMUGGLER. Tho New York "Sun” says that Prince Henry do Croy, who arrived from Europe in the steamer Potsdam, endeavoured but without success, to smuggle into the United States a quantity of valuables. The Princo made the usual declaration that he had nothing with him, nothing dutiable, and tho officials searched his baggago in vain. His Highness was then invited to step on board the vessel, and was induced to strip and to undergo a search. Tho Customs officials then discovered two Angora shawls and a quantity of diamonds and emeralds and other jewellery concealed in his clothing. The goods were seized, but his Highness will redeem them later on. The report that Princo Henry is engaged to Miss Goddard, of Providence, Rhode Island, is denied. A NEW AERIAL MACHINE. The "Express” says;—Dr Francos Alexander Barton, of Beckenham, has, ho believes, perfected an aerial machine, and tho 'War Office has offered to buy tho machine, providing that it fulfils certain conditions. These conditions, Dr Barton told an “Express” representative, he was confident of being able to fulfil. Dr Barton stated that the machinery and platform, suspended by a cigar-shaped aerostat, was capable of being steered in any direction. The propellers were driven by a highspeed motor. Between the balloon and the car was fixed a 1 orizontal aeroplane, which when put in ooeration caused the machine to ascend or descend or travel at any straight altitude. At the rear of the machine was arrann-ed a. vertical aeroplane for steering to the right and left. The great aunculty that has hitherto been exnerienced by air-ship inventors is that of circumventing the disastrous results following the moving of the centre of gravity. This the doctor has ingeniously overcome. AN OLD iwt’S REMARKABLE bTORY, A feeble old man on crutches, named Moore, got into the witness box with assistance at Bow street, London, the other day, and, with tears in his eves, told Mr Marsham. ho wahted his advice, having been done out of a lot of_ money—“a mint of money,” as he put it. Nine months ago (he continued) I was selling matches on Waterloo Bridge when a widow lady came to me and says to me, says she, “And what’s your name ?” I said, “Charles Harold Moore, the exchampion swimmer.” Then she told me that my brother, William Henry Moore, died in China four and a half years auo, and had left his property to his next of kin. She gave mo a shilling, and went away, Mr Marsham—Did yon hear from her again ? Applicant—No, sir but four months afterwards a solicitor stepped up to me and said he had called about my brother William’s property. He asked me where my brothers Walter and James were. I told him I believed one kept a publichouse at Chingford, and the other was a merchant in New Zealand. Next day he saw me, and said ho could not find Walter at Chingford. He said the widow who spoke to me on Waterloo Bridge was my sister, Louisa Madlock. I had not seen her for forty-four years.. Her husband had left her well off, arid she did not tffil me she was my sister. The solicitor said ho would advertise for my brothers, and if he could not find them he would sink the money for me, and I could live on the interest. _ I am afraid, however, that he has sunk it for himself. I asked him his name, but he said, “Oh, that does not matter.” I have not seen him since. I have to get my living by selling matches, and my landlord in Short’s Gardens threatens to turn me out if I don’t pay the rent. Mr Marsham told the applicant he could do nothing for him, hut no doubt the press would take notice of the matter.

THB WRECK OF THE SOBRAON. Twenty-three of the passengers from the wrecked Peninsular and Oriental liner Sobraon have reached Hongkong by the Douglas Steamship Company’s boat Haitem, which also took the pilot from the wreck. He says the vessel struck in a dense fog. There was no panic on board. The boats w-re provisioned and lowered immediately, and then stood by awaiting any developments. The officers showed the greatest coolness and resource, and the stewards rendered splendid service in helping the passengers and provisioning the boats. Not a single life was lost. A fishing junk subsequently took him and twenty-two passengers, as well as the mails, to Foochow, making the journey in thirtysix hours. They all received the greatest kindness there. Neeson, the pilot, says theSobraon had her bows smashed and her bottom ripped open, whilst the forehold and aft magazines are filled with water. Her main> hold is also leaking, and in Neeson’s opinion she cannot be towed off the rocks for at least a month, The P- and 0. steamship Coromandel is bringing down the remainder of the Sobraon’s passengers. DISTURBANCES AT ALGIERS. M. Max Regis, the Mayor, was sitting the other day in an Algiers restaurant with some friends, when the proprietor of the journal “La Ravanche du People” came up to him and demanded an explanation on the subject of the distribution in town of certain prospectuses concerning him. A scuffle ensued be. tween the friends of the two disputants, and one of M. Max Regis’s opponents fired on him, and wounded him* in the head. The Mayor’s brother and two of his friends were also wounded by revolver shots, but none of the wounds are serious. Water bottles and glasses were thrown about and broken to pieces, tables were overturned, and customers were injured. A furious crowd rushect into the restaurani', where the opponents of M. Max Regis had taken refuge, and the police had great difficulty in protecting them. A LADY EVANGELIST. A respectably dressed woman, with ringlets hanging down her. back, dressed in black, and carrying what appeared to be a hassock in her hand, sought the advice of Magistrate Plowden at Marylebone under strange circumstances. She had been living, she said, in Dorset street for a long time, and .on the previous night, simply because the rent had run up, her landlady locked her out in the street, and took away her character. - i.\ow,” she continued, with uplifted hand, “I am a public evangelist, and the Word of God declares it unlawul to stretch out our hand against the Church of the Living God.. This woman, then, in touching His evangelist, has touched His Church.” Mr Plowden—How much rent do you owe? Applicant —Oh, it has run up to—well, over £B. But what can be done? Can my case be put in the paper P

Mr Plowden —You are addressing the wrong person, I am afraid. Applicant—My landlady actually accuses mo of asking the butler to bring up my breakfast, and I declare I am not guilty of such a fearful crime. (Laughter.) Mr Plowden—lt is very satisfactory to think you have cleared your character of so wrievous an accusation. Applicant—Ar 0 the innocent in our country to he turned out upon the streets ? Mr Plowden—How came you to go out? Applicant—Well, I went out to a meeting at our church. Alas! I have been nearly done to death in my own country for the Gospel’s sake. (Laughter.) Air Plowden—Yes, but Applicant—Well, sir, it should not he. Pardon me, if you English only know what God said of this fearful war you would say it is time they stopped putting our Englishwomen to death. Mr Plowden—l will send an officer to investigate your case. Applicant—Well, now, really, I cannot understand our country. (Laughter.) Mr Plowden—lt is a little perplexing. (Renewed laughter.) Applicant—Hear me, sir. I dreamed tho other night of a fearful war, and a voice told mo it had to do with England. And it has been a fearful war. I ask you where would England bo but for God’s people? The lady was then ushered out of Court, breathing sinks and lamentations. ARREST OP A "JACK THE RIPPER.” The notorious "Jack the Ripper,” who assaulted and mutilated about eighteen women has (says a Ludwigshafen tele, gram) just been caught here red-handed by two detectives dressed as young women. Some weeks ago a cattle drover nam.d Damian was arrested for a crimi. nal assault, and it was suspected that he was tho author of the other crimes, but only the one case could be proved against him. Tho man is a native of the place, who is alleged for some weeks past to have attacked and mutilated unfortunate women after the fashion of hia London prototype.

A WEIRD RIDE. A burglar at Budapest has lust added another to the list of remarkable rides on the railway. The police found him in. a coffin. His situation, weird as it was, was at any rate preferablee to that of the King’s Cross porter who a year or two ago travelled from London to Grantham under an express train. He was attending to the brake when the train moved, and all his shouts were in vain. He knew that the train would not stop until it had reached Grantham, and h s feelings may be better imagined than described. They must have been some, thing akin to those of a condemned man who knows that he will draw his last breath in five minutes. For two hours the man held on to the brake tube, shouting at the top of his voice as the train dashed through the stations. The noise of the train, however, deadened his shouts, and it was not until th e train stopped at Grantham and the man crawled out on the platform that he was discovered. The noise of the journey rang in his ears, and he could not hear the questions with which he was assailed on stepping on to the platform. THE QUEEN OF ITALY. Few greater compliments have ever been paid by a King to his consort than that by Jxing Victor Emmanuel to his beautiful Queen. The King has decided that not his effigy, but that of his Queen, shall adorn the new Italian coinage, and the new mintage is eagerly awaited. Queen Elena is one of the most beautiful women in the world. She was the fairest of a bevy of fair daughters possessed by Prince Nicholas of Montenegro, and at one time it was thought she might become Empress of Russia. It was at the Russian coronation that the present King of Italy, then Prince of Naples, first saw the lovely Elena. He at once paid his attentions to her, followed her to her home in Cettihje, and there won her for his Princess. Until the assassination of King -Humbert the Prince and Princess lived very quietly, indulging in unostentatious travels. They were present at the Dim mond Jubilee, and took part in the great pageant. The King and Queen are very popular, and their coronation, which is. to take place as soon as the mourning for King Humbert is concluded, will be attended by all the Heirs-Apparent of Europe. RIOTING IN RUSSIA. Great excitement has been caused in the town of Taganrog, on the Sea of Azof, by extraordinary scenes of riot which occurred during the recent Easter celebrations. As a religious procession was passing, a number of persons threw crackers among the people. Subsequently for days together the streets were thronged by gangs of drunken peoeple, many lying about in an absolutely helpless state. Others resorted to the cemetery, and broke down plan, tations of trees and crossed, over the graves, and trampled on the tombs. A policeman and a civilian were attacked and injured. A body of fifteen rioters smashed the windows of a shop whose owner refused them brandy. The rioters have also- disturbed Ekaterinoslau, an. other South Russian town. Count Keller has issued a proclamation, declaring that in case of renewal he would shrink from no measure of repressions, and would summon the troops to fire on the rioters. The proclamation, also fo’rbids public gatherings under penalty of three months’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding 500 roubles.

STEEL TRUST V. WORKERS. Four hundred men employed by the American Sheet Steel Company, which is now a member of the Steel Corporation, have struck work at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, owing to disregard of trade unionism by their employers. This is the first conflict that has arisen between trade unionists and the Steel Trust. Mr Schaffer, President of the Amalga. mated Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers, to which society the men referred to belong, threatens to bring about a prodigious strike among the men employed by all the steel trust companies unless the Sheet Steel Company capitulate. PERSIANS MURDER RUSSIANS. Information has been received at St. Petersburg that four Russian workmen were set upon by a crowd of Persians at Rescht, and belaboured with sticks. Subsequently they were taken to prison'by the police, and subjected to the most awful tortures. One, of the workmen died in consequence of his injuries, and a second was publicly beheaded by the hangman. The sole reason given for these outrages was that the men had no passes. They had been engaged in road-mak-ing, and the Russian Consul being ab-

sent, tho Russian Government has de. manded an explanation. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE TRIUMPH. An important decision regarding Christian Science has just been rendered in the District Court of Milwaukee, \V is. consin. Two Christian Science healers treated a child suffering from diphtheria, which died under their care, and the local authorities commenced proceedings, declaring that the medical laws had been violated. Judge Elliott, of the District Court, in dismissing the case, said: —“It resolves itself into the question, Is prayer medicine? The query answers itself. Christian Scientists can no more he punished for their practices than can clergymen who pray at the bedsidese of the sick.” 6,000-YEAR-OLD TOMBS. The village of Mambourn, near Mayence, in the Hessian Palatinate, has just become tbe centre of much archeological interest. Some excavators have discovered an ancient cemetery, where the dead were buried in a sitting position. In some of the tombs stone axes were found at a depth of about fifty centimetres under the surface. Archaeologists assume that tho tombs date back to a period of about 6,000 years ago. Adjacent to this cemetery another was found containing Frankish tombs, dating from tho age of Charlemagne. The first discovery does away with the theory that the Rhine in prehistoric times, before it broke through at Bingen on its way to tho ocean, existed as an enormous inland sea, covering the country now known as tho Palatinate. 'Professor Virchow and other eminent scientists have been to see the extraordinary discoveries. TWELVE NEW CARDINALS. Th 0 Pope held a seceret consistory recently, at which he appointed 12 new cardinals. Of these nine are Italians. No English-speaking prelates received the red hat. Mgr. Martinelli, Apostolic delegate to the United States, is among the new cardinals. The consistory resembled that held in 1898, at which thirteen cardinals were created, including none of Anglo-Saxon descent. Two-thirds of the College of Cardinals as at present conposed are Italians, which insures the election of an Italian Pope on the death of Leo XHI. At the ceremony his Holiness delivered a spirited allocation against divorce, which he described as the chief cause of modern social degeneration. RUSSIAN VODKI MONOPOLY. At the Vienna Anti-Alcoholic Congress Mrs Gedda said that the vodki monopoly brought the Russian Government a yearly income of 350,000,000 roubles. At this statement there were cries of “Shame!” and Count Sharzinsky, the Russian Government representative, replied that since the monopoly had been established in 1898 there was far less drunkenness in the country, as was proved by statistics. Mrs Daczynska, a Polish representative, remarked that she would not believe Russian Government statistics under oath. In the ensuing debate Russia was severely censured for directly fostering intoxication. At tho President’s request Count Skarzinsky closed the discussion, but at a lecture later in tho day he advocated public festivals as a means of combating drunkenness. “SWEATED” DOCTORS.

Leipzig is in the throes of a doctors’ strike. Hundreds of physicians are involved, and have the sympathy of their brother medicos throughout Germany. It came about his way. Ever since the employers’ liability and compulsory insurance laws were passed the sick funds have developed enormously. The usual arrangements were made by each sick fund for a medical man to attend its.members at a reduced nominal and inclusive fee. The doctors noticed that as these funds grew their ordinary clients fell off, and nearly all joined one or other of the numerous sick funds. Moreover, these karnkenkassen, or sick funds, kept .down fees ruinously. Most of them worked out at seven pfennigs (seven-tenths of a penny) per case per day. A doctor often had 100 patients iry a day, and received exactly seven marks (or shillings). The physicians therefore started com" mittees for their own protection. Then dissensions arose among the representatives of the sick funds and these committees, resulting in an actual strike on the part of the doctors. At present there is somewhat of a deadlock, but in the end. some compromise will probably be brought about. SWISS MARKSMEN FOR THE UNITED STATES. Colonel Cecil, the American military attache at Berne, has communicate! to the Swiss authorities the special invitation of the American Rifle Association to send over a team of Swiss marksmen for the world’s shooting competition, to be hold at New Jersey next September. Among numerous events the chief ones will be the centennial trophy match for the world’s championship. The condi" tions are that eight marksmen shall fire seven shots each at 200, 000, and 600 yards. Value of prize, 1500 dol. lars. Tne second event is the Hilton Trophy Cup, value 300 dollars, to be disputed on the some conditions. The marksmen are to use the regulation rifles and ammunition of their respective armies. The same to bra which carried off all the first prizes last year at the international meeting at Paris axe to represent Switzerland. FALL OF A GUN AT DOVER. An extraordinary accident, happened recently at the Ordnance Wharf, Dover. Whilst one of the two 9.2 quick-firing breechloaders was being disembarked from the War Department steamer Cheviot, a link in the chain of the crane brobe, and the gun, which weighed over twenty-seven tons, fell with a terrific crash on to the vessel. It wrecked everything in its way, and the muzzle .smashed through the bottom of the steamer. Some of the crew had narrow escapes, but happily no one was injured. At once there was an Inrush of water, and 'the Cheviot commenced to sink. The pumps were promptly manned, whilst the powerful floating pump belonging to the Harbour Board was got on the scene with all dispatch. The military also wired to Woolwich for pumping and other gear, which was sent down. Meantime strong fatigue parties of Royal Artillery were dispatched from the Castle to assist. The appearance of the men, who ran down just as they were when the bugle sounded, caused considerable excitement: they were in all sorts of undress —slops, serges, fatigue rig, etc., while some of

the officers were in evening dress. In spite of all efforts the water gained on the pumps, and tho Cheviot heeled over until her starboard side was level with the dock. It jvvas found necessary to send down divers to temporarily patch the breach. In twelve hours the ship had almost righted, and her own pumps were keeping the water under. The deck and hold presented an extraordinary appearance, and it will cost some hundreds of pounds to repair the damage. The crane was tested some weeks ago up to forty one tons.

STRANGE STORY OF MEXICO. An extraordinary story of an Englishman’s treatment in Mexico is told in the “Cornish Post,” published at Camborne. Air Godfrey Vivian, a native of that town, after spending his Christmas holidays at homo, returned to Mexico tor the purpose of winding up his affairs, having arranged to settle in Cornwall. All went well until on e eventful day. when his valet committed suicide by shooting himself outside the house near Pachuca. Mr Viviah was arrested, and underwent a preliminary trial on a charge of murder. There were several witnesses to prove his innocence; but on one pretext or another they were not allowed to be heard. The authorities held that one being an Englishman “would be sure to lie.” Another, being only twenty years old, was legally an “infant.” Mr Vivian’s protests were of no avail; but he was refused bail, aud told that he would probably be shot. Ultimately the British Consul, Capta-n Frank Rule, contrived, in some way not vet explained, to get Mr Vivian re leased, and the young Cornishman lost no time in getting out of the country. Mr Vivian had had two narrow'escapes in Mexico. He was fired at one night while OH horseback; and on another occasion was shot in the thigh in the strong room of a bank by robbers. ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS. The French Chamber of Commerce in London held its annual dinner at the Prince’s Restaurant, Piccadilly, the other night, with M. Paul Cambon, the French Ambassador, in tho chair. Responding to the toast of his health, proposed by M. Duche, President of the Chamber, his Excellency said that the questions which used to bo in former times the study of diplomatists were now thrown into the shade by the more important and more pressing questions of the industrial and commercial progress of nations. Their duty was to make for the maintenance cf commercial relations with every country. With England the relations of France were so close that it was impossible to conceive of any misunderstanding arising, and he thought he could thank the French Chamber of Commerce in Loudon for having contributed towards making those relations what they wore. Sir Albert K. Rollit, M.P., who responded for the visitors, sail that the possibility of any serious difference between the two great countries would be a calamity for themselves and the whole civilised world.

TURKS AND BULGARIANS FIGHTING. As a result of the agitation at Sofia, the Prefect of Police has been dismissed, and a military officer appointed in his stead. Threatening letters were sent to the members of the Ministry, and a day or two ago a man who forced his way into the Chamber was arrested on the threshold, and on being searched a pistol and a dagger were found upon his person. ThenT is no doubt that the man was a hired assassin. It is reported that six armed Bulgarian brigands crossed the Macedonian frontier, and engaged in a skirmish with the military, during which one was killed and two taken prisoners. The others contrived to effect their escape. The Russian Diplomatic Agent and the Ottoman Commissioner at Sofia have arrived to report, the former to M. Zinovieff, the Russian Ambassador, and th 0 latter to Yildiz Kiosk, on the situation existing in Bulgaria in consequence of thp attitude taken up Oy the Bulgarian Government towards the Macedonian Committee. According to the Turkish newspapers, there has been an encounter on the Macedonian frontier between Bulgarians and Turkish troops. A scor© of Bulgarians attempted, to cross the border in the district of Osmauieh, in the vilayet of Uskub, but were disarmed by a body of Imperial troops lying in ambush. Other Bulgarians came to the assistance of their countrymen, and an engagement with the troops ensued. Several Bulgarians were wounded, and the rest fled.

HOW TO TREAT CHINA. In the "Fortnightly Review” Sir Robert Hart again reviews the China situation, and urges that the Powers would do well to abandon their claim to extra-territoriality. As regards trade, he says that transit rights, coasting trade, and inland waters steam navigation .are the items demanding attention—and he suggests reforms. As to missions, Sir R. Hart thus sums up his views: “Things being as they are in China, might it not be well for a missionary in China to pay more attention to, and be guided by, the fundamental distinction between essentials and non-essentials, and resist every temptation to delocalise a neighbourhood, or denationalise an individual? But, above all things, he should refuse absolutely to intervene in litigation or official business in any form or shape, and he should teach his people to outdo the pagan *in reverence of law, support of authority, and avoidance of offence. Sir R. Hart finally remarks that the Chinese is, after all, a man, and the best way to get on well with him is to treat him as a man ought to be treated. The treaties with China should be fully reciprocal, and China should have “the most-favoured-nation” treatment. The reform outlook is hopeful. How many know—as Sir Robert Hart indicates —that it would seem the Chinese knew of the phonograph thousands of years ago, and that a Chinaman has actually just improved spinning machinery and patented the invention? FIGHTING IN RHODESIA. News has just been received of fighting between the Chartered Company’s police and a number of natives in NorthEast Rhodesia, in whilh the latter were severely defeated. The scene of the trouble was the country round Fort Darwin, north of the Mazoe district, about 100 miles north of Salisbury, near the Anglo-Portuguese boundary." It appears that in consequence of the depredations of bands of natives under the Chief Mpanda, who had crossed the frontier and raided the natives in British territory, a force of 100 native police, under Captain Gilson, was dispatched, and came into conflict with the natives near Fort Darwin.

A severe fight ensued, in which Mpanda’s people" lost heavily, fifty being killed. Captain Gilson’s loss was one killed and four wounded. Mpanda sue-

ceeded in escaping into Portuguese territory, bub his force has been smashed, and no further trouble is expected. Troops, however, reimain in the neighbourhood to protect the natives. Mpanda, who fled from British territory across the frontier some years ago, has constantly been giving trouble to the authorities owing to his raiding propensities. ROWDYISM AND ANTI-ALCOHOL-ISM. At the Vienna Anti-Alcohol Congress tumultuous scenes occurred on account of th e continued attacks on physicians, particularly from the followers of the “nature euro”—a sort of Christian science, claiming that medical science is responsible for the introduction of the alcohol remedy. Professor Gruber defended the experiments of physicians, but was continually interrupted with shouts of “Medical science is still fishing in the dark!” When order was restored several papers were read, and eminent physicians maintained that the alcohol remedy was solely pernicious, and without a single redeeming quality. Another scene occurred when the vegetarian faction vainly wanted to insert a vegetarian plank in the anti-alco-hol platform. Later on there was much opposition between the total abstainers and the party favouring moderate drinking. The Socialist leaders favoured the latter, claiming that labourers after hard work occasionally needed a little stimulant. Members of the Congress afterwards dined with Minister Hartel, and drank champagne and beer. “TRADE IN MEN AND WOMEN.” “Trade in Men and Women.” Such is the heading given by some Berlin papers to the following facts: The number of agricultural labourers in Eastern Germany (and in a milder degree all over Germany) being wholly insufficient, Russians and Poles are being imported. An advertisement in an agrarian paper reads as follows:—“1000 Russian Poles, 3000 Galicians (men, women, boys) for field and brick work, can be supplied immediately, quick de-livery,-free to border or Berlin—Berlin Invalidenstrasse 18.” In anotner place: “IUUO Russians and Galicians are offered as horses, sheep, and swine keepers.” The “Agricultural Office” offers other servants from Russia. In some parts, however, t)iere seems to be no demand, and especially in the province of Hanover the supply is at present in excess. Some days ago a baud of 500 Croats from Austria wandered from village to village asking for work. As there is none, the papers are requesting that they should bo sent'home. SLAVE RAIDERS CRUSHED. Troops sent otit by Sir Frederick Lugard, High. Commissioner of Nigeria, against the powerful slave-raiding Emirs of Bida and Kontagora, in Northern Nigeria, have succeeded in crushing the power of these chieftains after some sharp fighting. The British column, consisting of 400 men of the West African Frontier Force, under Colonel Kemball, advanced on Kontagora, and was greeted with showers of poisoned arrows, but a few volleys dispersed the enemy. When the tvoops arr'ved in sight of Kontagora 6000 natives were waiting their advance, and after .some skirmishing a body of horsemen armed with guns, accompanied by footmen with nows and' arrows, charged th.e square, inside of which immense quantities of poisoned arrows fell. The British fire, was reserved until the enemy came withing eighty yards, when murderous volleys were fired, causing thorn to waver. Nevertheless, they came on repeatedly, but the rifle and Maxim tire was too much fqr them, and they eventually dispersed, ' leaving a large number of dead. The British loss, was one man killed by a poisoned arrow. The enemy fled through Kontagora, an extensive walled city of about 25,000 inhabitants, which was occupied, the Union Jack being hoisted. Next day the advance was resumed, and a big camp of tine enemy rushed. The Emir escaped, but some thousands of slaves were released and sent to their homes. The High Commissioner then advanced upon ilioa, overtaking the Emir’s rearguard, which was severely cut up. Bida was reached upon February 17th, and the Hefx-Appareut installed as ruler in place of his father, who had lied. Im'mediatcdy afterwards the enslaved people began, returning to their homes. The crushing of these notorious slavaraiding chiefs will have a far-reaching effect on the: country, the Emirs of Koutagora and Bida being the most turbolent and hostile rulers in Northern. Nigeria, says Reuter’s Ageucy.